America, I Hear You Singing

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America, I Hear You Singing
Sinatra aihys.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedApril 1964 (LP)
June 2010 (CD)
RecordedJanuary 2–February 4, 1964
StudioLos Angeles
Genre Traditional pop, patriotic
Length32:39
Label Reprise
F 2020
Producer Sonny Burke
Frank Sinatra chronology
Sinatra Sings Days of Wine and Roses, Moon River, and Other Academy Award Winners
(1964)
America, I Hear You Singing
(1964)
Robin and the 7 Hoods
(1964)
Bing Crosby chronology
Return to Paradise Islands
(1964)
America, I Hear You Singing
(1964)
Robin and the 7 Hoods
(1964)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [1]

America, I Hear You Singing is an album recorded and released in 1964 by American singers Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby, backed by Fred Waring's Pennsylvanians. [2] The album is a collection of patriotic songs, recorded as a tribute to the assassinated president John F. Kennedy. The artists would collaborate again for the album 12 Songs of Christmas , released later the same year.

Contents

An abridged version of the album was reissued as This Land Is Your Land (H 30931) on Columbia's budget label Harmony in 1971. The album received its first release on CD in 2010. The tracks featuring Frank Sinatra were included on the 1995 box set The Complete Reprise Studio Recordings .

Sinatra's daughter, Nancy Sinatra, said the album reflected her father's deepest beliefs. "I love my father's patriotism," she wrote. "I love the fact that he is so open and honest about his feelings for and about our nation. This beautiful album is an example of his deep love and respect for the U.S.A." [3]

Reception

A critic at Variety magazine liked the album, commenting, "This is an impressive gathering of top names for a patriotic paean in a swinging format. Backed by Fred Waring's orchestra and chorus, Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra singly and in tandem deliver a fine collection of flag-wavers." [4]

The album first appeared on the Billboard Top LPs chart in the issue of May 30, 1964, ranked at No. 130. [5] It was still on the chart seven weeks later, ranked at No. 125. [6]

Track listing

All tracks feature Fred Waring and the Pennsylvanians.

Side One
No.TitleWriter(s)Performer/ArrangerLength
1."America, I Hear You Singing"Tom Scottarr. Tom Scott 0:53
2."This Is a Great Country" Irving Berlin Bing Crosby, arr. Dick Reynolds/Jack Halloran 2:41
3."The House I Live In" Lewis Allan, Earl Robinson Frank Sinatra, arr. Nelson Riddle 3:39
4."The Hills of Home"Floride Calhoun, Oscar Foxarr. Roy Ringwald4:39
5."This Land Is Your Land" Woody Guthrie Bing Crosby, arr. Reynolds/Halloran3:25
6."Give Me Your Tired, Your Poor" Emma Lazarus, Irving Berlin arr. Roy Ringwald3:01
Side Two
No.TitleWriter(s)Performer / ArrangerLength
1."You're a Lucky Fellow, Mr. Smith"Francis Burke, Hughie Prince, Don Raye Frank Sinatra, arr. Reynolds/Halloran3:46
2."A Home in the Meadow" Robert Emmett Dolan, Sammy Cahn Bing Crosby, arr. Hawley Ades 2:50
3."Early American" Johnny Burke, Jimmy Van Heusen Frank Sinatra, arr. Nelson Riddle 3:34
4."You Never Had It So Good"Sammy Cahn, Jimmy Van HeusenCrosby, Sinatra, arr. Reynolds/Halloran3:01
5."Let Us Break Bread Together"TraditionalCrosby, Sinatra, arr. Roy Ringwald3:39
6."The Stars and Stripes Forever" John Philip Sousa arr. Harry Simeone 2:52

Personnel

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References

  1. America, I Hear You Singing at AllMusic
  2. "A Bing Crosby Discography". A Bing Crosby Discography. Retrieved November 30, 2015.
  3. Sinatra, Nancy. "Frank Sinatra, My Father" (1986), p. 364
  4. "Variety". Variety. May 9, 1964.
  5. "Billboard". 30 May 1964.
  6. "Billboard". 11 July 1964.